INTL vs QQQ
Main International ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, INTL or QQQ?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Growth.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | INTL | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.18%Best |
| AUM | $247M | $483.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.42% | 0.44% |
| Holdings | 10 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +10.64% | +16.87%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.18% | +22.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.61% | +24.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +14.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 17.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -22.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $16,646 | $25,143Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 46.5% |
| Fund Family | Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2022 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2022 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.8 years).
INTL vs QQQ growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3.8 years both funds cover.
INTL vs QQQ Performance
Main International ETF (INTL) is an ETF from Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year INTL returned +13.18% while QQQ returned +22.98%. Year to date, INTL is up 10.64% versus a gain of 16.87% for QQQ.
Over three years, INTL compounded at +16.61% per year against +24.98% for QQQ. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +27.46% annualized vs +14.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.1% for INTL. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -14.5% for INTL and -22.8% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTL charges 0.84% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $18 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INTL currently yields 3.42% against 0.44% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in INTL and 102 in QQQ, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 9 positions we hold weights for in INTL and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 10 and 107.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 9 and 102 positions we hold weights for.
QQQ holds 95 positions INTL does not, 97.0% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.44%, AAPL 7.27%, MSFT 5.76%, AMZN 4.67%, MU 4.43%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INTL and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, INTL or QQQ?
INTL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while QQQ charges 0.18%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INTL or QQQ?
Over the past year INTL returned +13.18% vs +22.98% for QQQ, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), INTL annualized +14.35% vs +27.46% for QQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTL or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.1% for INTL. Worst drawdown: INTL -14.5% vs QQQ -22.8%.
Should I hold both INTL and QQQ?
INTL and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, INTL or QQQ?
INTL yields 3.42% while QQQ yields 0.44%, so INTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than INTL?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.